Saturday, 17 September 2011

Status: Employed

At least for now.

A week and a couple of days ago, I had an interview at Starbucks. It was a fairly formal but friendly interview with two different people, one a store manager, the other a manager in training. The interview went well enough, but I didn't answer some questions as well as I could have, and honestly, I don't have any experience. I didn't get the job, to my disappointment, but also to my renewed determination. I went about handing out resumes like nobody's business a couple of days later, and sat back waiting for a possible phone call. This was a great exercise in my confidence; just walking up to someone and trying to show them how great I am in a three second conversation was a challenge.

The next day, I got a phone call from Starbucks. A different Starbucks than before. I had applied to several in one go, since that's what their online application process offered me. I missed their call, and by the time I called back, the manager wasn't in. So I called back the next morning, and went in for an interview that afternoon. The manager and I chatted a bit, I learned what the company is like, I asked a few questions... And then she asked if I wanted to try working there. Bam. Just like that. Most casual interview ever, much more comfortable than the other one, and she didn't seem to care that I didn't have experience, she just wanted to know that I'll do my best to work hard and serve people well. I think the main thing was that I said I actually cared about people, and wanted to improve their days as much as possible, it wasn't just for the sake of getting the job done.

So, cool story. I start on Monday. Apparently their training is pretty intensive. But, I survived the IB program, so I figure I can live through almost anything :). We'll find out.

Here are some reasons why God is good:
-I was extremely confident going into the first interview that I would be the best person ever for the job, and everyone would be proud of me for getting it, and I would breeze through my first job easily, blah blah blah. When I didn't get it, it was a beautiful slap in the face. And it's easy to say this now that I'm employed and happy, but it sucked at the time. I didn't realize how much I had been counting on that job.
-This Starbucks location is in an Indigo, which means a few things. Firstly, that I'm surrounded by books and nice things all the time. Secondly, that there won't be the same crazy morning rushes that other Starbucks' experience. And speaking of mornings, thirdly, the store opens when the Indigo does, at 9am. NO ABNORMALLY EARLY MORNING SHIFTS FOR ME.

Okay. That's it. Still waiting to hear from Cape Town. Still wanting to get snail mail from anyone who feels like writing to me? :) And I'm thankful that I'll soon have something to do with my time, so I won't be such a useless pile of lazy.

5 comments:

  1. Thanks be to God!! Yay Janelle!! You'll be great!

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  2. I don't know why, but this feels like watching my child grow up. Oh dear. :P

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  3. I can just see it now, you churning out venti no-foam, low-fat, skim milk lattes with impressive accuracy and speed. I wish I could see you in action! :)

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  4. Low-fat and skim milk don't exist in StarbuckSpeak. It's called "non-fat". :)

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